Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the second round of Dubai Global Energy Forum (DGEF) under the title of Clean Energy for Sustainable Development.

During his keynote speech, Saeed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, confirmed Dubai’s ongoing attempts to meet the increasing demand for energy amid the current global climate change.

In the last five years Dubai’s demand for energy has increased by 10 per cent while it is expected to grow at a steady pace of five per cent until 2020.

Al Tayer remarked how this forum is supporting Dubai’s initiative Green Economy for Sustainable Development, which aims to place Dubai as an international centre for renewable energy and sustainability.

“This initiative is part of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, which aims to achieve the vision of the government to put the security and sustainability of energy supply as one of its primary targets,” Al Tayer said.

The energy roadmap developed by the Dubai government has been translated into comprehensive strategies to enhance prosperity and development, he added.

In line with Dubai Vision 2021, the emirate’s energy strategy developed on building a competitive economy that is less reliant on fossil fuel resources by optimising sustainable energy.

On the other hand, he remarked how the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy is developing a framework for energy demand management to reduce demand by 30 per cent by 2030.

The forum will be discussing all issues related to energy, including investing in green projects, the potential for nuclear power in the Middle East, how to take advantage of solar energy and methods of influencing consumer behaviour to reduce water and electricity usage.

Moreover, policies, technology and investment opportunities in the energy sector are on the forum agenda.

Trend towards clean energy

Dr. Awadh Al Baraasi, Deputy Prime Minister of Libya, described how the Libyan government is working on diversifying the source of energy by developing energy strategy until 2025.

“The Libyan government attempts to diversify its energy resources depending on solar, wind and nuclear energy,” he said.

After concrete research, the government is looking to generates three per cent of power relying on solar energy at a capacity of 40 MW by 2014 while it will be increased by 10 per cent until 2025.

In addition to that, Baraasi remarked that they are working on developing several wind power projects in Libya at a capacity of 60MW by 2014.